Life in an earth-bound space pod

From May 5 to June 18, 2018, I lived inside an earth-bound NASA capsule known as HERA (Human Exploration Research Analog), which serves as a mission analog capsule for the Human Research Program. It was a bizarre, fascinating, fun, and educational 45 days. I’ve shared some posts about the lead-up to HERA as well as the egress ceremony. Now I’d like to share about the in-between stuff – the food, the living, the science experiments. I’m sworn to secrecy on certain topics, but I think these pictures and blog give a good representation of LIFE IN A POD. As you look through the pictures, remember that all of these things happened in a tiny habitat, about the size of an RV (~600 square feet). We crammed a lot of activity into a small space.

Before we entered the pod, my 3 crew mates and I spent approximately 2 weeks at the Johnson Space Center getting trained up on how to live in the pod and the protocols we would carry out inside. It was a whirlwind of activity, and the professionalism of everyone involved made it possible and even fun. We even took snazzy photos.

All my clothes, books, and toiletries for 45 days in HERA, plus our awesome HERA patch

It was impressed upon us terranauts that food as a critical part of space crew happiness and health. I’ve never been to real space, but my understanding is that food tends to taste more bland in space as a side effect of zero gravity. As such, hot sauce was provided in plenty for us, but we didn’t need to use as much because, well, we still had gravity (or we’re a bunch of wimps about spicy food). Overall, I was impressed with the food items – things like shrimp cocktail, grilled pork chops, scrambled eggs, granola with blueberries. My favorite dinner was the chicken with black beans and corn, served up on tortillas. My mouth is actually watering as I write that, but who knows, maybe it’s like camping food where it wouldn’t taste as good back home. Everything is individually pre-packaged – It was a bummer to go through so much plastic, but when the shelf life of the food is >3 years, long enough to make it to Mars and back and more, I understand the need.

My food rations for the next 3 days

The white pouches are freeze-dried items, while the green pouches are already hydrated.

Our kitchen consisted of a toaster-oven-thingy, a hot/cold water dispenser, and a clamp for rehydrating food, and some utensils.

Breakfast

Macaroni and Cheese 🙂

Cheese whiz and crackers. I don’t know about that one.

What did we do with our time? I break it down into two categories. First, we did a lot of work tasks which included flight simulations, science experiments, ship maintenance, and performing scientific tests of ourselves. Second, we did normal living things which included eating, playing games, exercising, watching TV, journaling, etc.

The work side of things was interesting and varied, for the most part. Here are some pictures of us at work, starting with the flight simulations.

Mission Specialist 2 prepares to inspect the solar panels

Flight Engineer performs a lunar landing

MS2 attempts a lunar landing

CDR and FE pilot the MMSVE to the surface of Geographos

A view of the flight console

FE manipulating the controls

A view from the front window of the MMSEV. MS1 and MS2 are docked on the robotic arms of the ship

CDR directs the mission specialists with a green laser to a boulder for some scientific sampling

A view of the mission specialists hard at work

In reality, MS1 and MS2 are wearing Oculus Rift goggles to navigate the surface of the asteroid

Happy mission specialists at the end of a simulation

When we were in rendezvous with the asteroid, part of the simulation involved collecting geological samples, using robust clean practices to avoid contamination of the ship or of the rock.

I won’t bother with too many pictures of laundry and cleaning the bathroom, but here are some pictures of the hydroponic plants, robotic rovers, and other science and non-science work tasks.

MS1 and MS2 perform a DNA amplification using miniPCR

CDR loading up the gel electrophoresis

FE performing DNA amplification

MS2 measures temperature and air flow of the ventilation system

MS2 prepares another plan experiment

MS2 with another plant growth experiment

Hydroponics on day 1 – nothing too special. yet.

The hydroponics in their little homes

MS2 investigates the hydroponics

MS2 measuring plants

CDR monitoring the plants

FE measures the hydroponic petunias

The plants are growing so well 🙂

CDR and FE work on their rover

FE happily working on the rover

Happily working on our rover

Our rover in the crawler configuration

Our rover in the tank configuration

Our little Wall-E

MS2 analyzes geologic samples in the glove box

CDR taking care of the brine shrimp experiment

MS1 aerarating the brine shrimp tank

MS2 and FE monitor the growth of brine shrimp

MS2 and CDR perform maintenance on Graphos

The main point of the HERA mission was to evaluate the human biological, physical, and psychological response to isolation and confinement, and to eventually use the results to help improve the lives of astronauts. Therefore, a substantial amount of effort went into analyzing our body chemistry, psyche, neurology, etc. Doing this required sampling blood, urine, and saliva, taking surveys, performing EEGs, among other tests.

Prepping FE for a resting EEG

FE measures her grip strength on the dynomometer

Measuring brain waves

MS1 is measuring his VO2 submax in the HERA art gallery.

MS2 takes a body swab for bacterial analysis

MS1 and MS2 take some body metrics. Or just showing off the guns.

MS2 is decked out with body sensors

MS1 is in for his blood draw from the “phlobotobot”

Our bathroom was pretty much like anyone else’s, except 1) It had a name – “Serenity” and 2) we stored hundreds of empty bottles for urine collections. All in the name of science.

Sleep deprivation was a key component of this and other HERA missions. We were limited to 5 hours per night during the week and 8 hours on the weekend. We woke up to rock and roll blasted over the intercom system. For a tour on our sleeping arrangement, check out this embarrassing video I made.

We had some time for exercise – it was limited to stationary biking and some weights and yoga. Here are MS2 and I getting our pumps on.

Lastly, we had time for some fun. It was hard to tell if there was a lot of free time or not very much, and I think that changed day to day and depending on my mood. We played a lot of scrabble and charades, watched movies and Fawlty Towers, and had a tradition of dressing up for “Sophisticated Saturday”.

Sophisticated Saturday

Feeling so fancy

MS1 and CDR enjoy a civilized dinner

HERA Art Gallery

Art in a Pod

Doing some sewing repairs with my dino friend

We held a couple of science lessons – here I share about paleolimnology…

…and diatoms.

Lots of scrabble. MS1 and I know all the two-letter words by now.

Toga night? you bet

Hanging out with terranautosaur

Our HERA mascots.

So, hopefully that gives you a taste for the science-filled, goofy life of four terranauts in a space pod. I want to give another huge shout of appreciation to everyone on the HERA support staff, the scientists, and my crew mates, for making the experience safe, enjoyable, and fruitful.